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The U.S. NRC’s Reactor Certification andLicensing Process – Meeting the Challenge?

Commissioner Peter B. LyonsU.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

15th Pacific Basin Nuclear ConferenceSydney, AustraliaOctober 16, 2006

United StatesNuclear Regulatory Commission

22

Key TopicsKey Topics

NRC MissionNRC Mission

Regulatory Independence Regulatory Independence

Public InvolvementPublic Involvement

Regulatory Challenges with GrowthRegulatory Challenges with Growth

Nuclear Safety Research CooperationNuclear Safety Research Cooperation

33

Outlook for Nuclear EnergyOutlook for Nuclear Energy

Favorable Outlook for Increased Safe and Secure Utilization of Nuclear Energy

Demonstrated Continued Safe Operations

SUPPORTS

44

Viability of Nuclear PowerViability of Nuclear Power

Demonstrated Continued Safe Operations

EFFECTIVE REGULATION

Technically Sound

Public Participation

55

REACTOR SAFETYREACTOR SAFETY

Systems, Structures, ComponentsSystems, Structures, Components

Programs, Practices, ProceduresPrograms, Practices, Procedures

Knowledge, Skills, AbilitiesKnowledge, Skills, Abilities

Safety CultureSafety Culture

66

NRC’s Regulatory StandardNRC’s Regulatory Standard

Adequate Protection of Public Health Adequate Protection of Public Health

and Safety and the Environmentand Safety and the Environment

Promotion of the Common Defense Promotion of the Common Defense

and Securityand Security

77

Risk-Informed RegulationRisk-Informed Regulation

Integration of -Integration of -•Risk InsightsRisk Insights•Defense-in-DepthDefense-in-Depth•Safety MarginsSafety Margins

88

Reactor Safety PerformanceReactor Safety Performance

PERFORMANCE RESULTS

Safety Measures

- Performance Indicators

- Inspection Findings

Safety Commitment

- Licensee

- Vendors

- Consultants

- Workers

99

Regulation for the Common GoodRegulation for the Common GoodNational Interests and International Law

Nuclear Regulation

Legal Regulatory Framework

Technical Regulatory Framework

MARGINS OF SAFETY

1010

NRC Strategic ObjectiveNRC Strategic Objective

Enable the use and management of Enable the use and management of radioactive materials and nuclear radioactive materials and nuclear fuels for beneficial civilian purposes fuels for beneficial civilian purposes in a manner that protects public in a manner that protects public health and safety and the health and safety and the environment, promotes the security environment, promotes the security of our nation, and provides for of our nation, and provides for regulatory actions that are open, regulatory actions that are open, effective, efficient, realistic, and effective, efficient, realistic, and timely.timely.

1111

Public OpennessPublic Openness Essential to Regulatory StrengthEssential to Regulatory Strength

Opportunities for Public CommentOpportunities for Public Comment

Public Comments Addressed OpenlyPublic Comments Addressed Openly

Opportunities for Public HearingsOpportunities for Public Hearings

• Licensing New ReactorsLicensing New Reactors

• Amending Licenses for Existing ReactorsAmending Licenses for Existing Reactors

Balanced with Security NeedsBalanced with Security Needs

1212

Global Interest in Nuclear EnergyGlobal Interest in Nuclear Energy

2025 Global Energy Demand – Up 50%2025 Global Energy Demand – Up 50%**

2025 Electricity Demand – Up 75%2025 Electricity Demand – Up 75%**

Nuclear PowerNuclear PowerLarge Baseload CapabilityLarge Baseload CapabilityMature TechnologyMature TechnologyAbates Greenhouse EmissionsAbates Greenhouse EmissionsReduces Air PollutionReduces Air PollutionSupports Energy DiversitySupports Energy Diversity

* U.S. Department of Energy estimate

1313

Our Responsibility and MandateOur Responsibility and Mandate

ResponsibilityResponsibility – Assure Adequate – Assure Adequate

Protection of the Public and EnvironmentProtection of the Public and Environment

MandateMandate – Enable Beneficial Use of – Enable Beneficial Use of

Nuclear Energy and RadiationNuclear Energy and Radiation

1414

Combined Licenses, Early Site Permits,Combined Licenses, Early Site Permits,and Standard Design Certificationsand Standard Design Certifications

1515

U.S. Industry COL InterestU.S. Industry COL Interest

Valid as of October 2, 2006

1616

Design-Centered ReviewsDesign-Centered Reviews

NRC staff’s parallel review of multiple NRC staff’s parallel review of multiple standardized COL applicationsstandardized COL applications

Dependent on extent of industry Dependent on extent of industry standardization of COL applicationsstandardization of COL applications

Principle: Principle:

One IssueOne Issue

One ReviewOne Review

One PositionOne Position

1717

U.S. Human Resource IssuesU.S. Human Resource Issues

Increasing competition for nuclear-Increasing competition for nuclear-related skills and experiencerelated skills and experience

Aging workforce and impending Aging workforce and impending retirementsretirements

University Nuclear Engineering University Nuclear Engineering programs at an all-time lowprograms at an all-time low

Increasing student enrollmentsIncreasing student enrollments More scholarships, training More scholarships, training

programs, and recruitment needed!programs, and recruitment needed!

1818

International Cooperation and International Cooperation and Nuclear Safety ResearchNuclear Safety Research

NRC Strong Commitment to International NRC Strong Commitment to International

CooperationCooperation

Global Marketplace a RealityGlobal Marketplace a Reality

International Partnerships of Regulators – International Partnerships of Regulators –

Path to SuccessPath to Success

Need for Research to Reduce Uncertainties Need for Research to Reduce Uncertainties

and Provide Sound Technical Bases for and Provide Sound Technical Bases for

DecisionsDecisions

1919

NRC International CooperationNRC International Cooperation Mixed Oxide and High Burn-up FuelsMixed Oxide and High Burn-up Fuels Plant Aging and Material DegradationPlant Aging and Material Degradation Digital Instrumentation and ControlsDigital Instrumentation and Controls T-H and Severe Accident AnalysisT-H and Severe Accident Analysis Probabilistic Risk AssessmentProbabilistic Risk Assessment Fire and Seismic RiskFire and Seismic Risk Radiation ProtectionRadiation Protection Human PerformanceHuman Performance Spent Fuel and Waste ManagementSpent Fuel and Waste Management

2020

Multinational Design Evaluation Multinational Design Evaluation Program (MDEP)Program (MDEP)

Stage 1 - International cooperation Stage 1 - International cooperation within existing regulatory frameworkwithin existing regulatory framework

Stage 2 - Convergence of codes, Stage 2 - Convergence of codes, standards, and safety goals across standards, and safety goals across international boardersinternational boarders

Stage 3 - Implementation of Stage 2 Stage 3 - Implementation of Stage 2 products to facilitate licensing of products to facilitate licensing of Generation IV reactorsGeneration IV reactors

2121

Meeting the Challenge?Meeting the Challenge?

Yes – nowYes – now

Yes – preparing for the futureYes – preparing for the future

Yes – working together Yes – working together internationally to ensure internationally to ensure

safetysafety

2222

Backup SlidesBackup Slides

2323

U.S. Industry COL InterestU.S. Industry COL InterestInterested Organization

Design Under Consideration

Sites Under Consideration

Planned COL Application Date

Unistar Nuclear EPR Nine Mile PointCalvert CliffsOther site not yet selected

2007 - 2008

SCE&G AP1000 Summer 2007

Progress Energy AP1000 Shearon Harris Florida (site not selected)

20072008

Duke Power AP1000 South Carolina (new site) 2007

NuStart Energy AP1000 Bellefonte 2007

ESBWR Grand Gulf 2007

Dominion ESBWR North Anna 2007

NRG Energy ABWR South Texas Project 2007

Southern Nuclear AP1000 Vogtle 2008

Entergy Nuclear ESBWR River Bend 2008

Amarillo Power ABWR Not selected yet To be determined

FP&L, TXU, Duke Not selected yet Not selected yet To be determined